⁴⁹ “But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”^[a]

³⁸ For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will.

²⁹ And the one who sent me is with me—he has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases him.”

The Coming Day of Judgment

3 “Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

³⁴ Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.

⁴⁸ His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.”

¹⁷ But Jesus replied, “My Father is always working, and so am I.”

Jesus Clears the Temple

¹² Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves.

⁴ We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us.^[a] The night is coming, and then no one can work.